don't happen
to know of a good, commodious two by four office that I could hire at a
two by four figure, do you? One not so far from the main street that
I should wear out an extravagant amount of shoe leather walking to and
from it?"

More reflection on the captain's part. Then he said:

"Well, I don't know as I don't. John, I'll tell you: I've got a buildin'
of my own. Right abreast the post-office; Henry Cahoon has been usin'
it for a barber-shop. But Henry's quit, and it's empty. The location's
pretty good and the rent--well, you and me wouldn't pull hair over the
rent question, I guess."

"Probably not, but I should insist on paying as much as your barber
friend did. This isn't a charity proposition I'm making you, Captain
Bangs. Oh, let me ask this: Has this--er--office of yours got a good
front window?"

"Front window! What in time--? Yes, I guess likely the front window's
all right. But what does a lawyer want of a front window?"

"To look out of. About all a young lawyer does is look out of the
window. Now about a boarding-place?"

Captain Obed had been waiting for this question.

"I've got a boardin'-place for you, John," he declared. "The office I
may not be so sartin about, but the boardin'-place I am. There ain't a
better one this side of Boston and I know it. And the woman who keeps it
is--well, you take my word for it she's all RIGHT."

His passenger regarded him curiously.

"You seem very enthusiastic, Captain," he observed, with a smile.

Captain Bangs' next remark was addressed to the horse. He gruffly bade
the animal "gid-dap" and appeared a trifle confused.

"I am," he admitted, after a moment. "You'll be, too, when you see her."

He described the High Cliff House and its owner. Mr. Kendrick asked the
terms for board and an "average" room. When told he whistled.

"That isn't high," he said. "For such a place as you say this is it is
very low. But I am afraid it is too high for me. Isn't there any other
establishment where they care for men--and poor lawyers?"

"Yes, there is, but you shan't go to it, not if I can stop you. You
come right along with me now to the High Cliff and have dinner. Yes, you
will. I ain't had a chance to treat you for twenty year and I'm goin'
to buy you one square meal if I have to feed you by main strength. Don't
you say another word. There! There's east Wellmouth dead ahead of us.
And there's the High Cliff House, too. Git dap, Father of your Country!
See!